Centrifugal ore separator



m 30, 1934. c. B. SLOAN GENTRYIFUGAL ORE SEPARATOR 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 30. 1932 INVENTOR,

Iii/'90 3% 6706/7.

ATTORNEYS.- I

Oct, 30, 1934. c B SLOAN 1,978,726

CENTRIFUGAL ORE SEPARATOR Filed July 50, 1952 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS.

c. B. SLOAN CENTRIFUGAL ORE SEPAR'ATOR Filed July 50, 1952 6 Sheets-Sheet, 3

Oct-30, 1934. Q-BSLOAN' 1,978,726

CENTRIFUGAL ORE SEPARATOR Filed July so, 1952 e Sheets-V-Sheet 4 ma INVENTOR, 622% .3. 670a.

ATTORNEYS.

c. B. SLOAN 1,978,726 'CENTRIFUGAL QRE SEPARATOR Filed July 30, 19 32 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Oct. 30, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE oEN'rmFUcAL can snrsna'ron Clifton B. Sloan, Kansas City, Mo. Application July 30, 1932, Serial No. 626,415

6 Claim.

An important object of the invention isto provide ore handling apparatus wherein are embodied parts utilizing centrifugal force and the results of two revolving parts that are simultaneously rotated in opposite directions whereby a void, or zone of low pressure is created for the purpose of allowing gold or other precious metalsyhaving a high specific gravity to separate from the accompanying foreign material and, thereby be constantly removed therefrom without interrupting the action of the separator.

A yet further object of this invention is the provision of strong, durable and unique structure for performing the necessary action above set forth, which structure is relatively cheap to manufacture and handles an exceptionally large volume of precious-metal-laden material in proportion to weight, size and number of parts included in the separator unit.

An even further object of the invention is the contemplation of ore treating or handling apparatus that is made up of a number of material-treating units, each associated with a unique and spe- 5 cially made separator and carried therewith upon a vehicle, whereby the entire plant might be readily and easily moved from place to place, and also whereby to permit driving or actuating all of said units from a single source of power that likewise is mounted upon the vehicle, as more fully hereinafter set down.

More specifically, this invention aims to provide a novel and useful separator having specially formed component parts which permit continuously feeding the material to be handled thereto and removing recovered precious metal therefrom without interruption.

This invention includes an exceptionally large number of minor objects, all of which contribute in the construction of separating apparatus which embodies the hereinabove set forth broad features. all of which will be rendered clear during the course of the following specification, referring to the accompanying drawings, illustrating the preferred embodiment of the invention and likewise showing a separator unit formed in accordance with a modified, form of the invention. In the drawings:

Figures 1, 2 and 3 are side, end and plan views respectively of assembled separating apparatus showing the same mounted upon-a suitable ve-. hicle and in more or less diagrammatical form.

Fig. 4 is anenlarged, vertical, central section taken'th'rough the separator proper and greatly enlarged for clearness. I

Fig. 5 is a horizontal cross-section taken through the separator on line V-V of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a'fragmentary, horizontal, sectional view through the separator taken on 1ine,VIVI

of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary, detailed, sectional view taken on line VII-VII of Fig. 4.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary, detailed, sectional View illustrating a portion of the driving mechanism associated with the two oppositely rotating parts of the separator.

Fig. 9 is a central, sectional view through one of the outlet ports leading from the bowl of the separator.

Fig. 10 is a side elevation of said port and asso sociateol mechanism.

Fig. 11 is a face view of said outlet port structure.

Fig. 12 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view taken on line XII-XE! of Fig. 10.

Fig. 13 is a similar section of the outlet port taken on a plane at right angles to the section illustrated in Fig. 12.

Fig. la is a fragmentary, vertical, sectional view through a portion of a separator unit embodying one modified form'of this invention, and,

Fig. 15 is a horizontal, sectional view through the modified form illustrated in Fig. 14, taken along line XV-IXV of Fig. 14.

This ore handling apparatus is particularly useful in recovering gold and has been found eflicient enough to recover flake gold from an aggregation of material which has previously been passed through sluice boxes and recovering machines of various natures and, since the apparatus permits such recovery, it is being found advisable to carry out one of the features of this invention by mounting the component units of the complete apparatus upon a mobile vehicle 18, which may be in the form of a trailer or self-propelled truck or the like that permits transporting the equipment from place to place.

Obviously, the part of the ore treating or handling apparatus lies in the separator unit itself. Detailed description of said unit will be reserved until after its association with the other parts of the complete assembly has been made clear by particularly referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3. As mentioned, vehicle 18 carries all parts of the equipment and when the locale of the material to be treated has been reached, it is but necessary to start engine 20 so that it will drive main driven shaft 22 through drive belt 24.

After the material is dumped into hopper 26'it will pass into rotating screen 28 where a drum having perforations of a predetermined size separates materials which will not pass through these perforations from materials which will pass therethrough. Stones, chunks of matter will'roll from the end of rotatingscreen 28 on to conveyor belt 30 which carries these particles to a dump located a suitable distance from point of operation. Screen 28 is driven from shaft 22 through belt 32, sprocket 34 and thence ring gear 36 which is secured to rotating screen 28. Shaft 38, which carries screen 28, is projected to receive pulley 40 which is belted as at 42 to pulley 44, all for the purpose of driving conveyor belt 30. A screw conveyor 46, located within the bottom of a suitable casing 48 which houses both screen 28 and screw 46, carries the fine material to one end of casing 48 where it falls into buckets 50 of elevator 52. Screw conveyor 46 is driven by sprocket chain 54 which receives its power from shaft 38 of screen 28.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, belt 56 passes around pulleys 58 and 60 for the purpose of driving elevator' 52. When the fine material carried in buckets reaches the top of elevator 52 it is emptied into receiver 62 of a conventional type mixer 64 that is disposed at a relatively high point for convenience in combining its action with separator 66. Mixer 64 revolves upon a horizontal axis and it is within this unit that water from pressure tank 68 is admixed with material being handled. A suitable water pump '70 is supplied to maintain the necessary pressure within tank 68 so that water may be introduced to mixer 64 and at various points throughout the hereinafter described separator as desired. Pump 70 is driven by shaft 22 through the connection of belt '12. Separator 66 has rotating parts disposed on a vertical axis and from mixer 64 material is allowed to pass to separator 66 for action as will be thoroughly disclosed in the part of this specification referring thereto. Mixer 64 is driven by connecting the same therewith to shaft 22 by belt '74. After the precious metal has been taken from the hereinafter described recovery launder it may be placed in the amalgamating barrel or similar unit for purposes of concentration. This amalgamating barrel '16 is mounted upon vehicle 18 and driven by engine 20 through shaft 22 and belt '18.

From the foregoing it is plain to be seen that all units of the apparatus that are mounted upon vehicle 18 are disposed in properly associated relation and that such as need motive power are driven from a common source of locomotion without the necessity of altering or changing the relation of units to meet requirements at different locales. Separator 66 is driven by belt which passes over pulley 82 mounted upon shaft 84, the location of which is definitely shown in Figs. 4 and 8. Separator 66 includes a bowl 86 rotatably mounted upon a vertical axis, which, in this instance, is defined by shaft 88. The lower portion 90 of bowl 86 is rotatably carried by shaft 88 and base 92 and all points of friction between shaft 88, base 92 and lower portion 90 are equipped small boulders, or other with roller bearings 94, disposed "in substantially the manner illustrated in Fig. 4. A collar 96 forms the necessary shoulder to preclude longitudinal movement on the part of shaft 88 and a gear 98, rigidly secured to lower portion 90, is in mesh with worm gear 100, keyed to shaft 84. Obviously, when gear 98 is rotated it will carry all of the bowl assembly 86.

A cone 102 performs an important function in the separator and to carry out the objects contemplated, this cone 102 must bemounted within bowl 86 on the same-axial line therewith and be rotated simultaneously with and in an opposite direction to bowl 86. To accomplish this requirement, cone 102 is secured to the upper end of shaft 88 to travel therewith and the rotary motion imparted to cone 102 is received by shaft 88 by a connection with shaft 84 through sprocket chain 104, shaft 106, worm gear 108 and gear 110, keyed to shaft 88.

Reference to Fig. 8 readily teaches the manner in which shaft 88 is rotated in one direction while lower portion 90 and all of bowl 86 are rotated in an opposite direction. The gearing just described is constructed in the manner necessary to create proper differential between the speeds of rotation on the part of bowl 86 and cone 102.

Bowl 86 is formed in substantially the manner shown in Fig. 4 so. that it presents a concave inner face, which is provided with a number of internal ribs 112 to prevent slipping at high speeds. The upper portion 114 of bowl 86 may be separable from the lower portion thereof and be provided with a clean-out plug 116. The mouth 118 of bowl 86 is formed on the upper portion 114 thereof and is supplied with an integral, overhanging, outwardly extending, annular flange 120 which overhangs a stationary launder 122 supported by framework 124 and having a suitable number of water Jets 126 which wash the material collected inlaunder 124 out through drain 128.

Cone 102 is carried by and driven through the medium of shaft 88 and is supported slightly above the bottom of bowl 86 which is formed by lower portion 90 thereof. To preclude the collection of material upon the bottom of bowl 86, the under side of cone 102 is cast to present a series of arcuate ribs 130 that sweep the bottom clean of materials and keep the same out from between cone 102 and lower portion 90 during the operation of the separator. Cone 102 has ridges 182 formed on the conical face thereof and is likewise provided with a number of vertical, radially extending, integral fins 134, each having a concave edge 136 in opposed relation with the concave inner face of bowl 86. On the upper edge of each fin 134 there is formed a boss 138 which assists in securing in place a ring 140 which is removably secured to fins 134. This baflle ring has a number of openings 142 therethrough and is made to present a number of depending lugs 144, all of which tends to act upon the material being treated to move it upwardly and outwardly through mouth 118. Because of the opposite movement on the part of cone 102 and bowl 86, there is set up an intermediate zone between the two members, which is along a vertical meeting line between the two and substantially above channel 146, formed in lower portion 90 of bowl 86. This channel 146 collects the precious metal of high specific gravity and should be lined with bronze or aluminum, as indicated at 148, to prevent adhesion.

As previously mentioned, properly prepared material is fed from mixer 64 into separator 66. The material enters separator 66 by way of a hopper 150 which is at the bottom of chute 152 and which is in communication with throat 154 extending into bowl 86 in axial alinement therewith and, likewise, in such alinement with cone 102.

Throat 154 flares at the lower end thereof to form an annular baflle apron 156 that partially houses the upper portion of cone 102. Through this throat 154 material to be treated is introduced into separator 66 and to prevent clogging a feed screw 158 is established that is driven through a connection, by way of rod 160, to the upper end of cone 102. Thus, besides the action of gravity, material will be drawn through throat 154 against the various parts of cone 102 where it will be acted upon by both the revolving cone and revolving bowl 102 and 66 respectively.

The upwardly and outwardly extending portion 162 of apron 156 overlies a portion of ring 140 and this ring in turn overlies the lower portion of the inner side of bowl 86. To prevent material from slopping out of hopper 150 and down on to revolving bowl 86, there is provided a suitable cover 164 which may be drained as at 166.

In the eflicient operation of this separator, precious metals will pass into channel 146 while matter foreign thereto will be forced upwardly out of bowl 86 into launder 122. When bowl 86 is rotated, material may be fed continuously thereto because precious metal being recovered is constantly being taken from channel 146 and emptied into recovery launder 168 through the outlet port structure shown in Figs. 9 to 13 inclusive. This structure is provided with means whereby the port is always opened when bowl 86 is rotated sufliciently to set up a centrifugal force that is ample to draw open the parts associated with the outlet ports.

There may be any number of. outlets arranged around the annular channel 146, but it is suflicient here to describe but one. A short conduit 170 has its center bore in communication with channel .146 so that precious metals may pass through said bore from said channel.- A rotatably mounted closure 172 is carried by disks 174 which are rotatably mounted upon pintles 176 integral with conduit 170. A link 178 joins each disk 174 at a point eccentric to pintles 176 so that when links 178 are moved, disks 174 will be rotated to open or close, as the case may be, the passage through conduit 170.

A weight arm 180 is pivotally' secured to bowl 86 as at 182 and passes outwardly between links 178 where they are joined thereto by pin 184. The heavier or weight portion of the weight arm 180 projects as shown in Figs. 9 and 10, and when rotation of bowl 86 is set up, centrifugal force will move weight 180 in the direction of the ar rows shown. in these two figures. In so doing, closure 172 moves from the position shown in Figs. 9, 12 and 13 to a position within the arcuate portion 186. Closure 172 is maintained in this place as-long'as bowl 66 is rotated and as soon as rotation ceases gravity acts upon weight arm 180 to again close the ports leading from channel 146. So long as there is precious metal to move from channel 146 to launder 168, outlet ports and associated structure just described will perform the function of removal. Recovery launder 168 has a drain-oil 188 from where the liquid may be taken to amalgamating barrel 76 for the purpose ofconcentrating the particles of precious metal.

While the form of rotating bowl shown in Fig. 4 is valrable in treating certain types of aggregates, this invention contemplates many modified forms which may lie-utilized in handling and treating materials having peculiar characteristics with respect to packing. In Figs. 14 and 15 there is shown a bowl 200 having a mouth 202 that is somewhat greater in diameter than the one previously described. Launder 204 catches discharged materials after they have passed through mouth 202 and over out-turned annular flange 206. Launder 204 is supported by framework 208 and cone 210 is positioned within bowl 200 in the same manner as previously set down. Ridges 212 formed thereon assist in acting upon material and radial fins 214 support ring 216 which has the depending lugs 218 integral with the bottom thereof.

In this form of the invention the feed throat 220, flared as at 222 just inside the mouth 202 of bowl 200 and the feed screw 224 is provided to preclude packing within throat 220. Internal ribs 226 assist in lifting foreign matter upwardly and out of mouth 202 while the precious metal drops to the bottom of bowl 200 which is formed in precisely the same way as the preferred form illustrated in Fig. 4. A cover 228 overlies the separator forthe purpose of and as previously mentioned.

The operation of the apparatus has been made exceptionally clear during the course of the specification which set down the relation of parts, and in describing separator 66 the related action set up between oppositely rotating parts was made suillcientlyclear to teach that any substances of relatively high specific gravity would separate from. the other matter fed into bowl 86 and dropped into recovery channel 146.

The speed ratio between the oppositely rotating parts is altered to suit the material being handled and also to permit materials of given specific gravity to readily drop to channel 146 when they are passed through the vertical zone of reduced pressure and force. The parts described as being important in the separator are necessary to cause all particles of the material being handled to pass, at least once, through the zone between the two opposite forces where opportunity is given material of high specific gravity to fall to recovery channel 146. I

A vast number of modifications might be included in apparatus embodying the broad con-' radial vertical fins integral with the cone; a

baflle ring carried by the upper portion of said fins and overhanging the inner lower part of said bowl; and means to simultaneously rotate said bowl and cone in opposite directions.

2. In ore handling apparatus, a separator comprising a bowl rotatably mounted on a vertical axis; a vertical rotatable cone within said bowl;

radial vertical fins integral with the cone; a

stationary teed throat above and in axial alinement with said cone; an outwardly flared annular apron formed on the lower end or said teed throat and extending over the upper end oi! said cone; and means to rotate said bowl and cone.

3. In ore handling apparatus, a separator comprising a bowl rotatably mounted on a vertical axis; a vertical rotatable cone within said bowl; radial vertical fins integral with the cone; a

stationary feed throat above and in axial aline-" side of said ring; and means to rotate said bowl and cone in opposite directions.

5. In ore handling apparatus, a separator comprising a bowl rotatably mounted on a vertical axis; a cone rotatably mounted on the same axis and within said bowl; and a series of armate ribs formed on the bottom face of said cone to sweep material from the bottom oi said bowl, said ribs having their convex iace confronting the direction of travel of said cone.

6. In ore handling apparatus, a separator comprising a bowl rotatably mounted on a vertical axis; a cone rotatably mounted on the same axis and within the bowl; outwardly extending radial fins formed on said cone; inwardly extending ribs formed on the inner face of said bowl; a plurality of annular ridges formed on said cone; means to feed material to be treated into said bowl on the axial line of said cone and thereabove; and means for rotating said cone and bowl in opposite directions.

CLlFION B. SLOAN. 

